THOLOS Volume 16

SPOTLIGHT 

ON SAFETY

BY THE

NUMBERS

PROJECT

UPDATE

Safely Sharing Two 

Special, Stinky Blooms

Presidential 

Inauguration 2021

Olmsted Lanterns 

Restoration 
2 

TABLE OF

4

12

CONTENTS

8

14
THOLOS | VOLUME 16 3

CONTENTS

TABLE OF

Q&A WITH CHIEF 

SECURITY OFFICER 

VALERIE HASBERRY 

12 DOING GOOD 

OLMSTED LANTERNS 

RESTORATION 

14 PROJEC T UPDATE

PRESIDENTIAL 

INAUGURATION 2021

HONORING THE U.S. 18 BY THE NUMBERS

CAPITOL GUIDES BURIED 

IN CONGRESSIONAL 

CEMETERY 

4 BEYOND THE DOME

SAFELY SHARING TWO 

SPECIAL, STINKY BLOOMS

8 SPOTLIGHT ON SAFETY

18
4 

HONORING THE U.S. CAPITOL GUIDES 

BURIED IN CONGRESSIONAL CEMETERY 

BEYOND THE DOME

WRITTEN BY BLAKE LINDSEY

Having a sense of one’s past is an important human 

need, and as an agency that traces its roots to 1793, 

the Architect of the Capitol (AOC) is fortunate to have 

a richly documented history. It is empowering to 

learn about the experiences of our visitor guide 

predecessors. Their history informs what we do and 

connects us to the long tradition of serving Congress 

and the U.S. Capitol. 

Among those traditions is the centuries-old practice 

of hosting visitors from around the country and the 

world eager to see Congress and its monumental 

home. From the U.S. Capitol’s beginning in the early 

19th century, local residents styled themselves as 

guides and shepherded visitors through the U.S. 

Capitol’s corridors. Photo of Congressional Cemetery courtesy of the AOC 

Photography Branch.
THOLOS | VOLUME 16 5

Guides Lauren Shiflet, Scott Jung, Nicholas Oristian, Laurel Martin, Joe Wasiak, Carrie Gallagher, Blake Lindsey, Janet Clemens and Dan Pearson 

at the grave of John Witel. The group placed markers at the graves of the Capitol guides. Photo by Jamal Gordon

Vastly increased visitation and concerns about public 

safety led to the creation of a professional Capitol 

Guide Service in late 1876. The Capitol Guide Service 

was the U.S. Capitol’s public face to visitors for more 

than a century, until increased visitation and the need 

for improved security and additional amenities 

necessitated change. In December 2008, Congress 

opened the U.S. Capitol Visitor Center, where a team 

of professional, educated and highly trained staff 

continues today to inform, involve and inspire guests. 

VASTLY INCREASED 

VISITATION AND CONCERNS 

ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY LED 

TO THE CREATION OF A 

PROFESSIONAL CAPITOL 

GUIDE SERVICE IN LATE 1876.
6 BEYOND THE DOME

Information about our visitor guide 

predecessors must be patched together 

from cursory newspaper references, 

obituaries and incomplete census 

records. Several of the men who first led 

tours through the U.S. Capitol are buried 

in Congressional Cemetery. 

Located in southeast Washington, D.C., 

just yards from the Stadium-Armory 

Metro station, Congressional Cemetery 

marks the final resting place of these first 

guides as well as senators, representatives, military veterans, Vice Presidents 

Elbridge Gerry and George Clinton, John 

Philip Sousa and J. Edgar Hoover. Walking 

the rows of worn gravestones reminds us 

that while our time on Earth is transitory, 

we often leave lasting legacies. 

In December 2019, a group from the 

Capitol Visitor Center Social Committee 

gathered at the cemetery to place 

markers on the graves of these guides 

and learn more about their lives. 

Born in 1840 in Charles County, Maryland, 

James E. Cawood grew up in a humble 

farming household. He married a 

Virginian, Amie Horton, in the 1860s, 

SEVERAL OF THE MEN WHO FIRST LED TOURS 

THROUGH THE U.S. CAPITOL ARE BURIED IN 

CONGRESSIONAL CEMETERY.

Photo of Congressional Cemetery courtesy of the AOC Photography Branch.

The Alexandria Gazette noted James E. Cawood's passing. 
THOLOS | VOLUME 16 7

and they had four children. In 1876 James was among the first people the U.S. Capitol Police hired to provide tours 

of the U.S. Capitol as part of the new Guide Service. He lived on 6th Street, NE, where his neighbor was fellow guide, 

George McCauley. 

McCauley is famous as the guide who rescued artist Constantino Brumidi from certain death in 1879 after the aging 

artist fell from the scaffolding while creating the “Frieze of American History” around the Rotunda. Luckily for them, 

most of Cawood and McCauley’s days were not so interesting, but they nonetheless witnessed the Rotunda become 

what it is today. 

James Cawood died in November 1886. A guide for 10 years, his service was essential to establishing today’s Visitor 

Services Division.

The Alexandria Gazette noted Frank H. Isham's passing.

Photo of Congressional Cemetery courtesy of the AOC 

Photography Branch.

Frank H. Isham was born in New York in 1856. During the 1860s, 

the Ishams moved to Washington, D.C., where his father served as 

a doctor in Union army hospitals. Frank married Alice Elmore, an 

art teacher, on Christmas Eve 1879. Frank had many skills; during 

the 1880s, he was listed as a plate printer and a government clerk. 

By 1887, he was part of the Capitol Guide Service, serving for 18 

years and likely filling the roster spot vacated by the passing of 

James Cawood. Frank and Alice rose to some prominence in the 

Washington community, as Frank became a Freemason and an 

active member in many area lodges. He died at the age of 49. 

Alice continued her work as an art teacher and was remarried 

by 1920.

John Witel was born in 1841 in England and immigrated to the 

United States as a young child. He grew up in New Jersey and 

married Martha Furman on New Year’s Eve 1866. They lived in 

Trenton, where John worked alternately as a shoemaker and a police 

officer. Martha died 20 years later in 1886, and by the end of the year, 

John had moved to Washington, D.C., and was listed as “Guide Cap” 

in the city directory. By 1900, he had remarried and had three 

children. He died of tuberculosis in 1907. 

The stories of these public history pioneers are ordinary, and their 

names don’t resonate with the power of some of the others buried at 

Congressional Cemetery. John Witel’s final resting place, for example, 

is just feet from the grave of former Washington, D.C. mayor, Marion 

Barry. Yet the legacy of those who built, maintained and served the 

U.S. Capitol remains as alive as ever. 

THOLOS | VOLUME 16 9

SAFELY SHARING TWO SPECIAL, 

STINKY BLOOMS

SPOTLIGHT ON SAFETY

WRITTEN BY DEVIN DOTSON

PHOTOGRAPHY BY THOMAS HATZENBUHLER

As summer was winding down in Washington, D.C., 

two of the famous corpse flowers (Amorphophallus 

titanum) came into bloom at the U.S. Botanic Garden 

(USBG). In years past, thousands of people have 

visited the Conservatory’s Garden Court to witness 

the growth and opening of these enormous, stinky, 

short-lived blooms. Since the Conservatory is 

temporarily closed to the public to reduce the risk of 

transmitting COVID-19, the Architect of the Capitol 

(AOC) set up a live camera feed to safely engage the 

public in this rare botanical event.
10 SPOTLIGHT ON SAFETY

In planning how to safely share the blooms with the 

public, the idea of displaying the plants in a different 

location than the usual Garden Court room in the 

Conservatory was discussed. The possibility of placing 

these tropical plants outdoors was considered, but it 

was determined that to protect the health of the 

plants, they had to be kept inside the greenhouses of 

the Conservatory. The fluctuating summer weather of 

Washington, D.C., and the potential love they might 

receive from outdoor USBG visitors could present too 

many dangers to the plants’ health. 

This species’ conservation status in the wild is endangered, with less than 1,000 individuals believed to 

exist in its native range in Sumatra, Indonesia. Both of 

the recently bloomed plants are accessions in the 

USBG’s rare plant collection. They were brought to the 

Conservatory from the USBG’s Production Facility, 

where they are grown in a greenhouse with consistent 

high heat, high humidity and ceilings tall enough to 

accommodate the plants’ 15-foot-tall leaves.

With the safety of visitors, employees and the plants 

in mind, the USBG reached out to AOC colleagues in 

the Information Technology Division (ITD) and the 

Photography Branch to create a livestream inside the 

Conservatory. Safety for all AOC employees involved 

in setting up such a system was discussed, and an 

installation plan was created after it was determined 

how each group would create and install the necessary pieces in a safe manner following COVID 

protocols.

Within 24 hours of a phone meeting, the team fully 

developed and executed a logistical plan to showcase 

the blooms. The USBG built a custom stand in the 

Garden Court for the camera and technology hardware, the Photography Branch installed and calibrated 

both a video for the live streaming and a still camera 

to capture images for creating a time-lapse video, and 

ITD installed streaming servers, cables and hardware. 

After some final modifications to ensure the setup 

could endure the heat, humidity and mist inside the 

Conservatory room, the live camera system was ready 

to go. 

Over the next several weeks, thousands of online 

visitors were able to watch as the plants grew to more 

than 100 inches tall and opened to reveal their 

brilliant colors in a showy display. The quick, thoughtful collaboration of AOC employees created a 

technological solution to share the popular blooms in 

a way that was both safe for the public and safe for 

the plants, too. 

Learn more at www.USBG.gov/CorpseFlower.

THIS SPECIES’ CONSERVATION STATUS IN THE WILD IS

ENDANGERED, WITH LESS THAN 1,000 INDIVIDUALS BELIEVED

TO EXIST IN ITS NATIVE RANGE IN SUMATRA, INDONESIA.
THOLOS | VOLUME 16 11
12 

Q&A WITH CHIEF SECURITY 

OFFICER VALERIE HASBERRY 

DOING GOOD 

Q: How did the opportunity come about to speak 

with faculty at the Texas engineering school?

A: I was asked by my previous boss who is an advisor 

at the engineering school and is also an alumni of 

the university. 

Q: How was it speaking with the faculty virtually?

A: The call was over Zoom. I think there are some 

challenges when you’re having a discussion with 

people you’ve never met before. It’s the challenge 

of “How do you connect virtually and ensure that 

you’re getting your message across?” There were 

opportunities for me to provide my story and 

opinion but also for the participants to weigh in 

with their reactions to current events. Because of 

the facilitated, virtual format of the call, we were 

able to keep the conversation going and it helped 

to break through any awkwardness. The call was 

originally scheduled for an hour but ended up 

extending beyond that time because there was 

active conversation. 

Q: How can conversations about the effects of 

race in education impact students in STEM?

A: We talked about how we can recruit students and 

get more diversity in engineering. I think it could 

have an impact to share those opinions with 

prospective students because seeing people who 

This past summer, Architect of the Capitol (AOC) Chief Security Officer Valerie Hasberry spoke with faculty 

at a Texas university engineering school on the effects of race in educational choices and the importance 

of diversity in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields.

WRITTEN BY MORGAN GREEN

PHOTOGRAPHY BY SEAN GREENE
THOLOS | VOLUME 16 13

represent different groups that have 

achieved what those students are 

trying to achieve — it gives an air of 

possibility to show it can be done and 

there are paths to get to where they 

want to be. 

Q: How can we make engineering 

career paths and internships more 

accessible to students of color? 

A: You have to show the opportunities to 

elementary and middle-school students in their STEM programs. We need 

to start young to interest students in 

engineering and the other sciences we 

use within the agency. We need to 

cultivate those relationships from the 

beginning stages all the way through 

college and that includes mentoring.

Q: What are your hopes for seeing more 

diversity in the engineering 

industry? 

A: We’re beginning to see more diverse 

success stories like the recent female 

recipients of the Nobel Prize for 

Chemistry (Emmanuelle Charpentier 

and Jennifer Doudna). If people see 

themselves represented, they can 

visualize the potential and the possibility. The more diversity that’s evident in 

a profession, the more we’ll see the 

industry evolve. In some cases, people 

don’t realize what opportunities exist 

for themselves, because they don’t see 

people who look like them in those 

career fields.
14 HEADER 14 
THOLOS | VOLUME 16 15

OLMSTED LANTERNS 

RESTORATION 

PROJEC T UPDATE

WRIT TEN BY KATE HOLDER

PHOTOGRAPHY BY DEWITT ROSEBOROUGH

Frederick Law Olmsted, considered the founder of American 

landscape architecture, is admired as much for his hardscapes as 

his landscapes. Commissioned in 1873 by the U.S. Congress to 

design the enlarged grounds of the U.S. Capitol, Olmsted spent 

the next 20-plus years overseeing the development of the 

58.8-acre site. His plan included not only planting hundreds of 

trees and shrubs but also constructing walls, walkways, fountains 

and the massive marble terraces surrounding the north, west and 

south sides of the U.S. Capitol.

To help light walkways on the grounds, Olmsted also designed 

and constructed numerous lanterns with the help of his young 

architectural associate, Thomas Wisedell. Between 1882 and 1894, 

14 of their most elaborate lanterns — featuring four different 

styles — were added to entry piers along the stone walls on or 

near First Street at the West Front. Four of the 14 were recently 

restored during the first of a two-year restoration project.
16 PROJECT UPDATE

Located just off Garfield Circle and Peace Circle, the 

four restored lanterns mark the entrance to the two 

Olmsted walkways that lead in straight diagonals to the 

west terrace of the U.S. Capitol. The large bronze and 

glass lanterns are mounted on stately sandstone piers 

with intricately carved sandstone caps. 

“We recently completed a metals inventory,” said Mary 

Oehrlein, the Architect of the Capitol’s (AOC) historic 

preservation officer. “The inventory gives us a condition 

assessment of each element and then we prioritize that 

list, so these fixtures rose to the top of the needs list,” 

Oehrlein said. 

A restoration company based in New Hampshire 

traveled to Washington, D.C., last fall and removed the 

large bronze lanterns from the sandstone piers; they 

took the lanterns back to their shop where they completely dismantled and refurbished the bronze while 

replacing some damaged framing on two of them. The 

bronze on all of the lanterns had corroded, so the 

contractors cleaned it, patinated the metal to return it 

to its original brown color, and then lacquered the 

bronze to seal and preserve the metal. 

Meanwhile, AOC masons cleaned the stonework and 

AOC high voltage electricians rewired the piers. 

Temporary lights were installed on the stone piers to 

light the walkways while awaiting the return of the 

restored lanterns.

The Olmsted lanterns were originally lit with 12 gas jets. 

To replicate the original look as much as possible, new 

light fixtures were constructed to hold 12 LED 

Touching up protective lacquer on the bronze framing of a lantern before it was reinstalled on its stone pier. 
THOLOS | VOLUME 16 17

Screwing in new LED lightbulbs styled to resemble the flames of the 

lanterns’ original gas jets.

lightbulbs. Although the lightbulbs have standard-sized 

sockets, the bulbs themselves are cylindrical in shape 

and cast yellow light that resembles a flame.

New glass replaced the white plastic sheeting that had 

been installed in the lanterns some years before. Here, 

too, the goal was to return the lanterns to their original 

look, which included clear glass. “It’s partially replica 

historic glass,” said Oehrlein. “The outside face of it is 

replica historic glass, but the inside face is a laminated 

glass system for safety reasons, to make it shatterproof.” 

After the historic glass arrived, the reinstallation of the 

lanterns was completed in early August.

The ornamental styles of the stone carvings and bronze 

lanterns reflect an eclectic mix of Oriental and Victorian 

era influences that were popular in the second half of 

the 19th century.

Drew Coulson, landscape architect and project manager 

for the Capitol Grounds and Arboretum jurisdiction, 

helped coordinate the project. His role included working 

closely with the Construction and Security Division of 

the U.S. Capitol Police to secure contractor access to the 

work site and scheduling the AOC electricians who 

participated in the project. 

“We were pleased to complete the restoration of the 

four lanterns despite the pandemic,” said Coulson. 

“Everyone adjusted and did a great job.”

By the end of this fiscal year, the remaining 10 of the 14 

Olmsted lanterns on First Street will all be restored to 

their original glory, lighting the way for visitors to enjoy 

the U.S. Capitol Grounds as Olmsted had envisioned 

more than a century ago.

“WE WERE 

PLEASED TO 

COMPLETE THE 

RESTORATION 

OF THE FOUR 

LANTERNS 

DESPITE THE 

PANDEMIC.”
18 

PRESIDENTIAL

INAUGURATION 2021

BY THE NUMBERS

WRITTEN BY ERIN NELSON

Every four years Americans cast their vote for president in 

November and watch as the newly elected president takes 

the oath of office the following January. Architect of the 

Capitol (AOC) staff also spend these months preparing for 

the inauguration at the U.S. Capitol. 

Presidential inaugural ceremonies are one of the most 

well-known of the numerous official events held at the U.S. 

Capitol. The AOC builds the inaugural platform on the U.S. 

Capitol’s West Front, sets up the seating and fencing on the 

grounds, and coordinates other activities with the Joint 

Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies.
THOLOS | VOLUME 16 19

While many of us may have picked up drills, hammers and nails for personal home improvement projects 

during the pandemic, it’d be hard to match the number of materials needed to set the stage for one of our 

country’s most cherished traditions. Much goes into the presidential inauguration; here are a few numbers 

that help make that special day possible.

177

1,244

3,424 

STRUCTURAL 

CONNECTORS

1,363

430

110,038

TONS (234,000 POUNDS) 

OF SAND TO FILL THE 

WEST FRONT FOUNTAIN

SHEETS OF PLYWOOD = 

43,616 SQUARE FEET = ACRE+

17,900 CONSTRUCTION MAN HOURS; 5,600 HOURS 

FOR THE POST-INAUGURATION DISMANTLE

GALLONS OF PAINT

SHEETS OF FOAM 

INSULATION FOR 

PROTECTION OF 

EXISTING SURFACES

LINEAR FEET OF DIMENSIONAL LUMBER

160,000 POUNDS OF SCAFFOLDING AND BLEACHERS

ZERO

LOST TIME INJURIES AND

 0 RECORDABLE INJURIES

552,700 NAILS 20,160

357 POUNDS OF GROUT AND 

MORTAR FOR FOUNDATIONS

CONCRETE MASONRY UNITS 

FOR THE FOUNDATION
Legislative and Public Affairs

U.S. Capitol, Room SB-16

Washington, DC 20515

Tholos Fall 2020

The Architect of the Capitol strives 

to meet its mission 24 hours a day, 

365 days a year to serve Congress 

and the Supreme Court, preserve

America’s Capitol, and inspire 

memorable experiences for all who 

visit the buildings and grounds.

Tholos is distributed by the Architect 

of the Capitol primarily for AOC 

employees. Questions regarding 

content and publication should be 

directed to AOC Legislative and Public 

Affairs at communications@aoc.gov, 

202.228.1793, or U.S. Capitol, Room 

SB-16, Washington, DC 20515.

JOIN AOC ONLINE:

Twitter.com/uscapitol

Facebook.com/architectofthecapitol

Instagram.com/uscapitol 

YouTube.com/uscapitol

www.aoc.gov

FRONT COVER PHOTO BY:

SEAN GREENE

BACK COVER PHOTO BY:

THOMAS HATZENBUHLER